eBF conference 2023 – A glimpse into the future of procurement

The eBF conference – one of the largest European conferences focusing on the digitalisation of procurement processes and online auctions – took place at its usual venue in Ostrava from 24 May to 26 May and this year attracted a magic number of 666 participants.

June 1, 2023

The conference confirmed that it symbolises the positive results of combining imagination and intellect. The eight main conference tracks included discussions and presentations on the latest trends, strategies, and technologies shaping the digital procurement business.

The conference rooms and unconventional spaces of the Hotel Imperial, such as the drained swimming pool and the former casino, hosted some very impressive discussions and lectures. The agenda of the conference included a variety of attractive topics.

However, one topic, in particular, was discussed everywhere. It was raised in the “drained swimming pool” during the Automation and Robotisation lectures and from there it spread to the other tracks. This topic was artificial intelligence.

For the first time this year, our company contributed two presentations to the rich conference programme. In our first contribution entitled “Connection without Borders”, which we presented together with the head of the Czech Post’s SAP Competence Centre, we shared our experience with simple and easy electronic communication with suppliers, which eliminates the technological, time, and other barriers between the customer and the supplier.

In our second contribution – “Go Procurement” – we teamed up with representatives of the CEZ Group and focused on purchasing processes, in particular, the deployment and further development of a central purchasing system and the centralisation of purchasing for the entire range of purchased commodities. The speakers also highlighted the preparations for the planned generational overhaul of the system, both in terms of the new technologies used and the process itself, including new requirements that reflect CEZ Group’s more than 15 years of experience with the central purchasing system.

The conference enabled attendees to gain valuable insights and a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by today’s digital procurement world. This was evidenced by the many lively expert debates that took place within each track.